It’s championship time again and here we preview the first two games taking place abroad in the Connacht SFC race.

Sunday, May 5th

Connacht SFC quarter-finals

London v Galway, Ruislip, 3pm

The 2019 All-Ireland senior football championship will officially get underway once the ball is thrown in for his one at Ruislip.

Galway head for the English capital as colossal 1/50 favourites and justifiably so, given the fact that they’ll be lining-out at McGovern Park as defending provincial champions.

Tribesmen boss Kevin Walsh revealed his hand on Thursday afternoon and it shows a couple of debutants, including John Daly at centre-back and Antoine O’Laoi and Padraic Cunningham in attack.

Marksman Shane Walsh will look to rediscover last year’s summer form, while either side of him will be Corofin’s Ian Burke and Danny Cummins – both of whom are sure keep plenty of heat the Exiles’ defence this Bank Holiday weekend.

This will be the 10th championship meeting between these two, with Galway having won all previous nine. The most recent clash between the two in 2014 produced a 19-point win for the men in maroon.

Expect another comfortable win here for the JJ Nestor Cup holders on opening weekend.

Verdict: Galway

 

New York v Mayo, Gaelic Park, 2.15pm (7.15pm Irish time)

A huge Mayo contingent have headed Stateside for this one and why not?

James Horan has come back with a bang in the Heather County after his team recorded their county’s first National League triumph in 18 years at the end of March.

That thrilling 3-11 to 2-10 victory over Kerry at Croke Park has left the Westerners heading into this Sam Maguire Cup race in as strong a form as any side in the country.

Horan will be without injured captain Diarmuid O’Connor, and, of course, his brother Cillian, this weekend but has named a strong side regardless, with eye-catching midfielder Matthew Ruane, James McCormack and James Carr the senior championship debutants.

Jason Doherty was the Division 1 champions’ top-scorer during the league with 0-27 (0-20 from frees) while Kevin McLoughlin (2-5) and Ruane (2-4) did the most damage from play over the successful campaign, which also saw Aidan O’Shea starring around the centre.

It leaves Justin O’Halloran’s New York side with an enormous mountain to try and scale in the Bronx and although they pushed Leitrim all the way this time last year - they face an entirely different animal this time round.

Verdict: Mayo

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